Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 83818 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83818 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Ollie’s grip on the steering wheel tightens. I can’t look at how fast he’s going. I reach a hand to his arm. “Please, Ollie. Driving faster won’t make this go away. Please, slow down.”
He lets out a long breath and begins to slow down. “Sorry. I didn’t realize I was doing that.”
“I know.”
We sit in silence for a moment. He reaches his hand to my leg and strokes his thumb along the bare skin.
“My brother didn’t mean to hurt me. He saw the next step forward for our family and was taking the brunt of my father’s rage.”
“That doesn’t fucking matter,” Ollie mutters.
I sigh. “But it does. I’m not saying it was right, but he told me later that he was trying to protect me, and marrying into this other man’s family was the best choice.”
“The damage was done, though, Renata. He hurt you. He scarred you.”
“I know,” I say softly. I swipe at my cheeks, remembering how it was after that night. “After that, he didn’t trust himself not to hurt me, so he disappeared. There was a rift between us, a constant reminder of how far he had fallen.”
“Renata.”
“Yes?”
“Is there still a part of you that believes Carlos can be redeemed?”
I turn my head and don’t answer right away.
“Yeah. I still remember what he was like as a boy. How he took care of me. It’s… complicated. He might be a monster in your eyes, but he’s still my brother.”
“I know.”
“The brother I loved is still in there somewhere, Ollie. I know he is.”
The view outside our window has changed. The houses are farther apart now, and there’s more green between them. Wide fences mark property, and in the distance, the sloping mountains beckon with scattered clouds.
“Renata—”
“I know he is. Imagine if one of your brothers turned his back on you. Hurt you. You’d want him back, too, wouldn’t you?”
“First, the answer is… if any one of my brothers turned their back on my family, he’d be exiled. We aren’t united by blood, Renata. We were all adopted by my parents, our family forged on loyalty and love.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Second.” His voice takes on a darker, more serious edge. “I don’t appreciate being interrupted. I give you space to talk without interruption.”
I feel small and chastened. “Sorry about that.”
His voice is a low, soft command. “Interrupt me again, and you’ll find yourself over my knee before you realize what’s happening. Clear?”
My pulse races. I swallow and nod. “Mhm. Got it.” I look down at my hands and place one on top of his, my voice a low purr. “Yes, sir.”
His low growl of approval is all the answer I need. He may give me shit about my own kinks, but my husband is kinky as fuck, too.
“Your brother is our enemy. The brother you knew is gone, and if history is any indication, he will never return.”
I nod. It doesn’t hurt as much as I expected it would because he’s not telling me anything I don’t already know deep down in my heart.
“Renata,” he says softly. “You have a family now. A family that will protect you, cherish you, and fight for you no matter what. You’re a Romanov now, and we will prove our loyalty to you.”
I watch the fading sun outside our window, and my heart swells. He’s right. The brother I knew is gone. The man who took his place is no friend of mine. But the Romanovs are my family now, and with them, I’ll find the strength, loyalty, and love I’ve been searching for.
“Are you hungry?”
I sigh. “Always.”
He squeezes my knee. “Good. There’s a little diner ahead. No one’s followed us. Aleks is watching.”
I smile. “Oooh. I’ve always wanted to go to a diner.”
“I’m guessing you don’t have them in Colombia?”
“No. I mean, in some larger cities, you can find American-themed restaurants, but they’re unusual. We prefer our own food.”
He gives me a rare smile. “Then you’re in for a treat.”
“Yeah?”
“Something uniquely American I go for every time I come back to America. I crave a good ol’ American breakfast. Bacon and eggs, those little fried potatoes. Toast with these little pats of jelly.”
“They sell breakfast?”
“Yes, every kind of breakfast you can imagine. Of the American variety, anyway. And sandwiches for lunch, all the sandwiches.”
“Burgers? I love an American burger.”
“With fries? You got it.”
Now I’m starving. “Can I get an ice-cold Diet Coke on the side?”
“Of course.” He opens his door and comes to my side. We’re the only ones here, and for once, it’s nice to see that Ollie is almost… relaxed. Carlos is momentarily distracted; his family’s got us on their radar. We’ve got this.
A neon sign flickers above the small diner like a beacon of light in an otherwise desolate place. It looks like it’s straight out of an American movie from the fifties, and my heart soars. We’re honeymooning! Me and my badass, grumpy husband.